Following the mass layoff of immigration judges at the start of Trump’s second term and the subsequent DOJ rule removing the requirement for temporary immigration judges to have relevant immigration experience, the current administration has now moved to replenish the vacant positions with a new class of recruits. Trump has appointed 140 new hires so far. The National Association of Immigration Judges reports that training for the incoming judges has also been cut from nearly five weeks to three.
The DOJ recruited replacements by controversially marketing the roles as an opportunity to become a “deportation judge” and “define America for generations.” Two-thirds of the new hires have no verifiable immigration law experience, and only 24% have previously worked for DHS, ICE, or U.S. immigration courts. Per reporting, newly appointed immigration judges include Carey Halliday, a judge previously rebuked by a federal appeals court for denying a gay Serbian man asylum on the basis that he did not appear “overtly gay,” Melissa Isaak, Jan. 6 defense attorney who has made deeply controversial statements about domestic abuse, and Nathan M. Hansen, a lawyer who publicly championed Minneapolis ICE raids on social media.
Ex-judges attest they were given no stated reason for their termination and believe they were terminated for ruling too frequently in favor of immigrants. Christopher Day, a former immigration judge turned whistleblower, wrote to Congress that the training that new judges are receiving is “completely inadequate and highly biased.” He reported being pressured to complete at least three asylum cases daily and was told that judges who failed to meet unspecified expectations could be fired within six months. He was fired two months into his appointment after “granting too many cases”. Kerry Doyle, former top ICE official with 30 years of legal experience who was also fired last year, told The Washington Post, “They’re trying to create a malleable workforce that will do what they want without question.”
What This Means for Immigrants with Backlogged Cases
Asylum rejections more than doubled from 2024 to 2025, and the percentage of cases granting asylum dropped from 48% in February 2024 to under 5% in February 2025. If you are an asylum seeker with legitimate fear of persecution, violence, or death in your home country, the judge hearing your case is increasingly likely to have no immigration law experience and limited training.
The same goes for DACA recipients, TPS holders, parents of U.S. citizen children, and/or anyone with a pending immigration case.
It has never been more critical to seek independent counsel as soon as possible to ensure your immigration case is presented clearly and precisely to an immigration judge.
Talk To An Immigration Appeals Lawyer Today
While this development is extremely concerning, connecting with an experienced immigration lawyer can help you understand what you need to prepare for and strengthen your case.
The immigration attorneys at Reeves Immigration Law Group tirelessly work to keep families together and defend against deportation and removal. Our law firm prioritizes the immigrant community and will do everything in its power to protect these populations. Our talented team works diligently to keep cases out of court, but when needed, are highly successful in trials and appeals.
Contact an immigration attorney today to discuss any concerns you may have over your case.
